Selective fluid metering system



y 1955 J. T. WINSHIP 2,712,885

SELECTIVE FLUID METERING SYSTEM Filed May 10, 1949 50 IN V EN TOR.

4, through a valve 35, displacement meter 10 2,712,335 SELECTIVE FLUID METERKNG SYSTEM John T. Winship, Cieveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Gil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a cerporation of (thin Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,436 Claims. 81. 222-26} The present invention relates to fluid material dispensing and metering systems, and more particularly to a new and improved system of this character embodying a novel and highly effective electrical control system for automatically registering desired information relating to each dispensing operation.

In the distribution of fluid materials such as fuel oil,

The principal object of the invention, accordingly, is

to provide a new and improved fluid material dispensing system which embodies semi-automatic means for registering essential information about each dispensing operation performed thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing system of the above character in which one or more different fluid materials may be dispensed seelctively to one or more reception units, the relative amounts of material dispensed to each unit being accurately registered at the time it is dispensed.

According to the invention, register means is provided for each unit which is to receive fluid material from a loading station. Each register means is operable only by the person responsible for the fluid receiving unit to which it corresponds, individual key means being provided for this purpose. The insertion of the key means also conditions pumping means for the fluid so that it can be operated by the person inserting the key means and at the same time actuates valve means interposed in a delivery line connected to the contanier for the fluid material to be dispensed. interlock means is also provided which prevents the insertion of another key means from atfecting a dispensing operation before the completion thereof and removal of the key means corresponding thereto.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a typical form thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The drawing shows, in diagrammatic form, a typical truck loading rack for fuel oil. The fuel oil dispensing system may comprise, for example, a storage tank 2 connected by a conduit 3 to a suitable electric motor driven pump 4. The pump 4 is adapted to pump oil from the tank 2 to either or both of the conduits 5 and 5, as described in greater detail hereinafter. Since the two sides of the loading rack are identical, it will be necessary to describe only one side, like parts in the other being designated by like primed reference characters.

The conduit 5 is adapted to supply oil from the pump a conduit 7 and a master positive to a loading spout 6. The master nite tates Patent O operated switches are a I operated switch 15a, 15b,

25 is disposed with its coil 2 positive displacement meter 10 may be of any suitable type having contactor means 11 actuated thereby adapted to open and close a switch 8 at a rate proportional to the flow of material through the meter 10.

The typical electrical control system illustrated comprises a bank of 10 key-operated switches 15a, 15b, 15 These switches may be operated only by the insertion of the proper key therein, each switch requiring a different key. Corresponding to the respective keyplurality of registers 16a, 16b, 16 and multiple contact relays 17a, 17b, 17j, respectively, the latter having their coils disposed in parallel across the conductors 18 and 19, each coil being connected in series with a corresponding key- 15 respectively.

Since the contact relays 17a, 17b, 17 are alike, only one will be described in detail, like parts in the others being designated with like reference characters having corresponding letter subscripts,

Thus, the relay 17a is provided with three sets of contacts 20a, 21a and 22a. Of these, the contacts 20a are closed while the relay is not energized, and the contacts 21a and 22a are open. A relay 23, including normally closed contacts 24 and normally open contacts in series with each of the paralleled coils of the relays 17a, 17b, 17 and consequently in series with each of the respective keyoperated switches 15a, 15b, 15

Closing any one of the key-operated switches such as the switch 15a, for example, completes a circuit from supply mains conductor 14 through the conductor 12, the relay 23, the closed relay contacts 24, the conductor 18, the closed relay contacts 2%, the relay 17a, the closed key-operated switch 15a and the conductor to another supply mains conductor 13. The flow of current in this circuit energizes the relays 17a and 23. The energization of the relay 23 causes the contacts 24 to open and the contacts 25 to close, while of the relay 17a causes the contacts 2% to open and the contacts 21a and 22a to close. This completes a holding circuit for the relays 17a and 23 which is traced from the conductor 12 through the relay 23, the conductor 26, the closed relay contacts 21a, the relay 17a, and the closed key-operated switch 15a to the conductor 19.

The opening of the contacts 24 disconnects the conductor 18 from the supply mains conductor 14 so that none of the remaining relays 17b, 17c, 17 may be energized by closing any of the other key-operated switches corresponding thereto. The closing of the contacts 22a completes a circuit from the supply mains conductor 13 through a conductor 28, the register 16a, the conductor 27a, closed relay contacts 22a, the conductor 27, master meter contactor switch S, and the conductor 12 to the other supply mains conductor 14. This causes the register 16a to be actuated each time the contactor 3 is closed by the flow of oil through the meter it).

Referring now to the relay 23 it will be noted that the contacts 25 are adapted to be closed upon initial energization of the circuit by any one of the key-operated switches such as the switch 15a, for example. This completes a circuit from the conductor 12, through the conductor 3i), a normally open pushbutton switch 29, a relay 3i, and conductors an and 42 to the conductor 19. The relay 31 has three sets of normally open contacts 32, 33 and 34 which are adapted to be closed upon energization of the relay 31 by depressing the pushbutton switch 29.

The closing of the contacts 32 short circuits the pushbutton switch 29 and maintains the relay 31 energized after the pushbutton switch 29 has been released.

The contact 33, upon closing, connects the conductor 12 to one terminal of the electrically operated valve 35,

energization the other terminal of which is connected to the conductor 19 through the conductors 41, 4t and 42. This opens the valve 35.

Simultaneously, the closing of the contacts 34 connects the electrically driven pump 4 to the conductor 12 by the conductor 43, so that it begins to pump oil from the tank 2, assuming it is not already operating by the insertion of a key in one of the switches 15a, 15 corresponding to the other loading rack, the pump being common to two circuits.

A typical operation of the system is as follows: A tank truck driver having a key corresponding to the register 16a, for example, inserts his key in the switch 15a. The closing of the switch 150: energizes the corresponding multiple-contact relay 17c, closing the normally open contacts 21a and 22a, and opening the normally closed contacts 29a. The closing of the contacts 22a permits the register 16a to become actuated by the interrupted flow of current through the contactor switch 8, in accordance with the rate of flow of oil through the master meter 10.

Simultaneously, the relay 23 is energized, closing its contacts 25 and energizing the circuit of the pushbutton switch 29. Also, the relay contacts 24 are opened, rendering it impossible for any other relay 1%, 171' to be energized by the insertion of the corresponding key.

The driver then actuates the pushbutton switch 29, thereby causing the valve 35 to open and the pump 4 to be energized. The spout 6, which has previously been inserted in the truck tank, has a quick acting valve 44 which is then opened by the driver. As the truck tank is filled with oil the amount dispensed is accurately recorded on the register 16a which may be calibrated to read directly in gallons or a figure which may be easily converted to gallons.

When the tank truck has been filled, the driver closes off the quick acting spout valve 44, and turns off his keyoperated switch 15a. The relays 17a and 23 are now deenergized and power is able to reach any of the other key circuits because the contact 24 is now closed. The contacts 25 are now open and the relay 31 is deenergized,

rendering the pump 4 and valve 35 inoperative. The quantity of oil delivered to the driver of the tank truck will have been totalized on his individual register and the totals of the several registers may be totalized upon the master flow meter 10, if desired.

it will be noted that the electrically operated pump 4 is common to the two racks comprising the loading station shown in the figure. Accordingly, if oil is being drawn at one loading rack, the pump may already be in operation at the time a loading operation at the other rack is initiated by insertion of a key in the corresponding switch. in such case, the pump 4 is not deenergized by removal of the first rack key from its switch, but remains in operation until the second rack key is removed from its switch, unless meanwhile another key has been inserted in another switch of the first rack.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the invention provides a novel and highly effective fluid material dispensing system which furnishes accurate records of the relative amounts of fluid material dispensed to each of a plurality of secondary reception units. By virtue of the novel electrical control system employed, the possibility of registering errors being made inadvertently or otherwise is completely eliminated.

The preferred embodiment of the system disclosed herein is but one of several modifications possible within the obvious scope of this invention, The invention should, therefore, be measured in terms of the appended claims and not restricted unnecessarily by the illustrated and described embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A selective metering system for a material dispensing apparatus, including, material discharging means, means for establishing electrical signals proportional to the quantity of discharging material, a plurality of volinne registering devices responsive to said electrical signals to record the quantity of discharging material and electrical connections between said volume registering devices and said signal establishing means, a plurality of multiple contact first relays, one relay being associated with each of said volume registering devices, each of said relays including a coil, a first set of normally closed contacts and second and third sets of normally open contacts a plurality of selectively operable normally open key-operated switches respectively disposed in series with the coils each of said relays and a source of electrical energy and adapted upon closing to actuate one rela means connecting both the first and second sets of contacts of each of said first relays in series circuits, each including the corresponding key-operated switch, relay coil and and a source of electrical energy, second relay means having a coil connected in series with the said second sets of relay contacts, means connecting each oi the third set of contacts in a series circuit including the corresponding registering device and said means for establishing electrical signals proportional to the discharge of the material, and a first set of nor.- mally open contacts adapted to be closed on energizetion of said second relay coil and connected in a series circuit including a source of electrical energy and means for establishing a fiow of material from said discharge means.

2. A selective metering system as set forth in claim 1 including a set of normally closed contacts actuated by said second relay coil relay and connected in series with the said series circuits including the first set of normally closed contacts of each of the first relay means, thereby to render, upon opening, all but one of said first relays inoperable.

3. A selective metering system for providing records of quantities of a material which are passed through a common discharge means, comprising electrically operated flow controlling means for facilitating a flow of the material through the dischar e means; signal gencrating means responsive to the ilow of the material through the discharge means to provide signals representative of the quantity of the material flowing; a plurality of independently operable registers adapted to respond to said signals to record the quantities of the material flowing through the discharge means; a plurality of selectively operable register-controlling means for conditioning the system for operation and numbering at least one for each of the registers, each of said register-controlling means including a normally open key-operated switch and a series connected first relay coil adapted to be connected in series with a source of electrical energy, a second normally open switch connected in series with its corresponding register and adapted to be closed upon energization of said first relay coil, said second switch being connected to complete, upon closing, a circuit between said signal generating means and said corresponding register, and a third normally open switch adapted to be closed upon energization of the first relay coil; a second relay coil; first circuit means connecting said third switch and second relay coil in series with a source of electrical energy; a. fourth normally open switch adapted to be closed by the second relay coil; second circuit means connecting the fourth switch and said flow controlling means in series with a source of electrical energy; and means for rendering all but one of said key-operated switches incapable of being operated when a given key-operated switch is in use.

4. A selective metering system for providing records of quantities of a material which are passed through a common first discharge means, comprising, electrically controlled pump means for establishing a flow of material through the first discharge means; signal generating means responsive to flow of material through the first discharge means, to provide signals representative oi the 5 quantity of material flowing; plurality of independently operable registers responsive to said signals to record the quantities of material flowing through the first discharge means; a plurality of selectively operable registercontrolling means for conditioning the system for operation and numbering one for each of the registers, each register-controlling means including first and second normally open switches, key controlled means for operating the switches and circuit means connecting one contact of the first switch to its corresponding register; circuit means connecting said signal generating means to the second contact of each of said first switches, whereby the closing of any one or" the first switch means by means of its corresponding key controlled means will connect one register to receive signals from the signal-generating means; a relay coil; means connecting the said second switches across a source of electrical energy and in series with the relay coil; valve means in said first discharge means; electromagnetic means connected across a source of electrical energy for operating the valve means; a

normally open third switch in series with said electro magnetic means and adapted to be closed by energization of the relay coil; circuit means connecting said electrically controlled pump means across a source of electrical energy; a normally open fourth switch in series in the last said circuit-means to be closed by energization of the relay coil; and means for rendering all but one of said key-controlled means incapable of being operated when a given key-controlled means is in use.

5. A selective metering system as set forth in claim 4, including a second plurality of independently operable registers; second discharge means; second signal generating means responsive to flow in the second discharge means; means connecting the second discharge means to receive material from the said pump means; a second relay coil; a second series of key-controlled means, each including two normally open switches, the first connected in series with its corresponding register and the second connected in series with the second relay coil; and a normally open fifth switch connected in parallel with the fourth switch and adapted to be closed by energization of the second relay coil whereby both the first and the second discharge means utilize the same pump means independently.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,899 Long Nov. 23, 1926 2,049,634 Troutman Aug. 4, 1936 2,060,674 Hicks Nov. 10, 1936 2,174,656 Hanrahan et a1 Oct. 3, 1939 2,179,698 Levy et a1 Nov. 14, 1939 2,538,243 Hazard et al. Jan. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,633 Germany Jan. 8, 1931 

